A New Psychology of Personal Freedom - Choice Theory

Many of the concepts in this book reminded me of thoughts from How I found Freedom in an Unfree World. I have looked for that book, but it’s out of print and crazy expensive. Great logic on personal responsibility for your own happiness.

I'm still reading it, but so far, oh dear, so far this book has opened my eyes inmensely. Have you stopped to think about why you choose to do something? Many people just do without thinking, and this book explains in details what is happening to people in Choice Theory, something that we are not using, that people prefer to control other people. This is helping me a lot. I understand more my wife, my son, my students, my boss... I'm 31 years old... I wish I had read this when I was 18.

This book should be required reading for everyone in America. Yes, I am a therapist and have utilized Glasser's advice with various individuals with wonderful results. The world truly would be a different place if we changed our attempts to control others and actually realized (and lived our lives like we realize) that the only person you have any control over is yourself. It's not only a freeing concept but it also forces people to stop making excuses for why their lives are not the way they want them to be.

Great book. It explains in on real life examples how people react in certain situation and what they have to do to change their behaviour.
Examples can easily be applied to your life situation. It did in mine.

As a Marriage Family Therapist, this book provides a basic theory from which to deal with all types of people and situations. Our agency uses Choice Theory as a basis for most of our therapy and all of Glasser's books are primers for how to have healthy, happy relationships and lives.

Along with Solution-focussed Brief Therapy, Choice Theory are the high points of 20th century talk-therapy. 21st century methods learn towards Energy Medicine, an animal of a different stripe. Glasser's wife updated Choice Theory book in 2015 with notes from Wm. Glasser and a new book title. The packaging is more commercial. I have not read the new version. Who has read both editions and can comment?

If more people bought and read this book, we would have less war, less divorce and a host of happier children. It also supports the growing scientific data (molecular biology) that claims we come into the world with a propensity to love, play, be free and to succeed. A really great read.

I found this book a bit ambiguous. I had hoped for more information on what was ment by choices. The concept is promising but the book fell short of it's objective to really inform. If you are a first time buyer of William Glasser books I would suggest another of his books first. "Take Charge of your Life: How to get What You Need with Choice-Theory Psychology" This book may be a better CHOICE.

Quite a helpful and insightful book, but honestly all of this information is pretty common sense stuff. This book will not change your life or give you any life affirming moments, but its worth a read.

Like other reviewers, from the very beginning of the book it becomes clear that Glasser makes an awful lot of simplistic assumptions. One concern I have is his one size fits all approach as it relates to his theroy in the context of helping people feel better. To his credit he does produce a plausible framework for how to provide cognitive therapy and all the time motivating the client to take some action and not get paralyzed in analysis. He has good intentions but the most you can get out of this book will be a crude metaphor or two. He started his own company to teach his "theory" to students. Glasser has not allowed his work to be studied independently which just makes me not want to trust much of what he says since we have no way of knowing how successful Glaser's theory is in accomplishing his goal besides him assuring us it does. In fact nearly all the evidence in the book he presents is anecdotal and frankly, underwhelming.

I recommend this book to a lot of my patients and fellow therapists. It gives a good foundation for change. Some chapters are a bit dry, but it's easy enough to skim through. I have a few copies that I share with family and friends. Describes a good way to let go of control and get your life back.

Choice Theory is all about what you can do to improve your life rather than looking into the past to determine what aspect of it has led you to where you are now. Looking into the past is useless as you are where you are, the important thing is the next decision that you make this is where Choice Theory can help you.

If you're ready to get real with yourself, this book can help you identify your destructive behaviors and choose beneficial ones that guide you to healthy relationships, either platonic or sexual. My husband and I are polyamorous and 18 months into the development of our third two-female, one-male, long-term relationship. Consider the severity of our potential emotional and mental issues - how many places we could fail. Now, if this book can help me, it can most definitely help you!

This book attempts to make a case for a utopian society based on people subscribing to the ideas of choice theory. However, that assumes everyone will choose to do the right thing if given the choice to do whatever they want to do. Choice theory states we should only suffer natural consequences such as being cold for not wearing a coat when it's cold outside. What's to keep a serial killer from wanting to kill if we let people do whatever they want to do (as choice theory suggests)? There are no natural consequences for this type of destructive behaviour - that's why we punish people who do these things by putting them in jail. The author doesn't provide factual evidence to prove his points; he provides fictional stories with more theories as "evidence." For instance, he states if you are ill it's because you choose to be ill - rheumatoid arthritis and other illnesses are caused by your choices. Some of his stories completely contradict choice theory - such as when he's telling the story of a parole officer bribing a parolee to go to a book club. I found this book to be a complete contradiction to what it was trying to prove, riddled with fictional "facts," and more like an attempt at creating a cult-like utopia which isn't realistic based on choice theory. As with anything, there were a few good points to take away which are listed in the back of the book. For instance, the only person you can control is yourself. Basically, it's common sense stuff we sometimes need to be reminded of. Otherwise, this book was difficult to finish because it was so objectionable.

As I've stated on another of his books, this guy has zero empathy, which is not how I desire to interact with clients. I recommend another theory. I'm not telling you which one--you pick which one. Just try another one.

While I strongly believe in the statements of choice, or rational, theory, this book is a loser in trying to explain it. This is a particularly difficult anomaly, because the author is the progenitor of the theory. If he cannot articulate the theory well, how does he expect others to use its principles to good effect? I tired of it several times, and finally discontinued reading it. Glasser doesn�t even begin to explain the theory until chapter four - after three lengthy, insignificant, and meandering chapters. When he finally gets to describing the theory, he doesn�t articulate any of its principles, only examples of some of its applications. Now, it is often desirable to show the use of principles by example, but not at the expense of not citing principles of how to use what the examples intend to portray. The theory is simply this: One always can make choices that fit the best available opportunities and desires, even when there is overt conflict and avoidance. Take this principle and apply it to every level of one�s life. If these statements are accurate, they should have been clearly enunciated early in the book. Most of the book is fluff of how to apply this principle in a variety of different ways. It�s how he gets from a single page to the book�s redundant and verbose 340 pages.

I have used the basics of choice therapy in my work since I got started, but this book is a must have tool for both experienced clinicians and self-helpers. Honestly, some material will be difficult to digest if you are accustomed to relieving yourself from personal responsibility through blaming behaviors, but you'll be thankful if you give this book an honest read. I only wish I could keep a copy on the shelf for each of my clients.

Admittedly I've only gotten as far as Chapter 3 in the book - but already take issue with the ideas presented. I minored in psychology and try to be open minded about different theories and ideas. While I do find the idea that we can improve our sense of well being by taking action and working to change the way we think about circumstances and events that occur in our lives - Make lemonade out of lemons - it's not always that simple.

I question the ideas:
1. The only person whose behavior we can control is our own.
2. All we can give another person is information.

People have to learn and understand that there are people in this world that DO control others - and they do it by WITHHOLDING information so that the other person is unable to make a suitable choice.

This a game that is played and played often - in all areas of life.

Even after knowing a person for a very long time - and believing you have every reason to trust them and trust they are providing you with all the information necessary - some still withhold information to maintain power and control in their favor.

He stated that people with no friends are people who don't know how to love. That generalization really ticked me off. Anecdote wise - I personally know people who seemingly have many friends - but are not truly loving people. And I know very kind and caring people who have few friends. Some people struggle to create and maintain friendships not because they can't love - but because they're not good at the politics of life nor do they have any interest in playing them.

Dr. Glasser has been working and developing Reality Therapy and Choice Theory for years and as a practicing clinician myself I think his book Reality Therapy and this one, Choice Theory, should be on every therapist's shelf.

Even Though this book talks a lot about the aspects of how Choice Theory works, it is an easy enough read and uses a lot of examples that I have given this to clients to read to help them conseptualize Choice Theory on their own. Giving them the book to read opens a lot of opportunity for dialogue and allows me to spend a lot less time explaining the concept in session.

While I don't whole heartedly subscribe to all that Dr. Glasser believes I think that for most clients Choice Theory will work to some degree. In my practice I like to mix and match a lot, but Choice Theory is one I use as a go to in a lot of my couples counseling and with many of my depressed clients. I have seen it work and for those clients who can internalize this concept and live it in daily life I have seen a lot of change for the better in the short and long term.

Dr. Glasser has some good ideas about how important relationships are and how feelings can be misleading. It is all too easy for our society to shirk responsibility for our choices and how they affect our relationships and physiology. That said, Dr. Glasser must have ice water in his veins. He flat out denies mental illness and brain chemistry as causes -- he claims they are only effects of choices. While this may be true in some cases, anyone who has struggled with a psychiatric disorder or needed medicine to - help- with anxiety, depression, etc will be offended.
Also, Dr. Glasser seems to have no place for religion in his theory. This is a problem for anyone who is religious, because religion by definition transcends cold, hard "reality" as Glasser views it.
Must confess, I couldn't finish this book because I decided that in Glasser's words, it was not "compatible" with how I view the world. Some good ideas here; it may work as a last resort, but there are better options that will result in better, more complete people rather than the mere animals Glasser views us as.

The benefits that I have received by reading this book are multiple.
The new approach of using Deming's total quality teachings in education can change person's way of looking at life, and if applied in basic, middle and high school eduaction could be a great contribution towards making our children more reponsible for their own acts and better citizens.
Dr. Glasser states that nobody but ourselves can control our own feelings and reactions. Depression and anger are feelings that can be controled and changed. Also his present day approach shortens the amount of time that therapists have to spend with patients, by considering as important what is going out now and not loosing time figuring out the past. Dr. Glasses presents several clinical cases where results were outstanding using his method of therapy.
The concepts of this book apply to personal relationships as well as job related ones. Dr. Glasser shows how every person has a quality world with 3 main compone! ! ts: people we care for, things we consider important, and our own ideas and concepts about life. The combination of these factors will make us happy or unhappy depending upon our own choices. Only people and items we let into our own world are the ones that can influence our feelings and reactions, Dr. Glasser shows in this book how to manage them efectively, and teaches the reader how to make the changes that will transform their own lives and also to influence changes in lives of the people we love and care for.

Even if you read (and apply) only the first 4 chapters of this book - just 80 pages - your life will change for the better.

In a nutshell, William Glasser argues that unhappiness is the result of unhappy relationships, and unhappy relationships are the result of one or both people trying to control each other.

Too often we criticize, bribe, nag, punish, yell at, give ultimatums to people we claim to love. We try to manipulate them into being and doing what we want. In the process, we damage, if not destroy, the relationship.

Likewise, we blame others - our spouses, kids, parents, bosses - for our misery. We think, "They're making me angry, sad, stressed. They're making me do things I don't want to do."

In actuality, nobody can MAKE us feel or do anything. They can only give us information. We CHOOSE, and must take full responsibility for, how we feel, think, react.

Others can only give us information. We can only give others information. No one can, in reality, control anyone. And trying to control others (or believing that they control us) KILLS RELATIONSHIPS.

THE 5 BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS from this book (imho) include:
1) We can only exchange information. We cannot control others. Others cannot control us.

2) Trying to control/manipulate ANYONE (again, even our kids), creates misery. (It is a practice Glasser calls, External Control Theory. It under-girds most societies and families.)

3) We can influence people by remaining a part of their Quality World. (Staying on their mental list of things, people, events they get good feelings from.)

4) We all have 4 Psychological Needs: Love / Belonging, Freedom, Fun, Power. Each of us varies in how we'd rank each need. One tip for great relationships is to discuss and respect each others' different needs. (My hubby, for example, has a greater need for Love and Belonging. I have a greater need for Freedom. Now I understand his thrill at having us dress alike; and he understands my need to have alone-time.)

5) The Solving Circle is a great tool to initiate relationship healing. Inside the imaginary circle are you, your partner, and the relationship. You must each do things you know will benefit the relationship, and not exclusively serve your personal needs.

This was the first text used in my coach certification training. I recommend it to clients all the time.

It helps the reader take responsibility for creating the life and relationships they want. Only through taking responsibility can you accomplish anything.

Can a book about psychology bring a new measure of personal freedom to the reader? Indeed it can! In his latest book, psychiatrist William Glasser offers freedom from widely accepted ideas that play havoc with good relationships. This is a book about relationships. It shows how all of us can improve every personal relationship in our lives, and, thereby, help us solve many of the problems that plague our times.
Best of all, this is a wonderfully readable book. The reader gets acquainted, up close and personal, with real people who present real problems-problems all too familiar to most of us. Within the privacy of the counseling room, we are treated to word-for-word accounts that demonstrate how Dr. Glasser sets the stage for those who are troubled to open new and liberating doors for themselves. We are even treated to a view of the psychiatrist-writer counseling literary characters, such as Francesca in THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY.
The book, REALITY THERAPY, published in 1965, brought Dr. Glasser to international prominence. A book about counseling, it pioneered a movement, now widely followed. The current style of counseling is no longer aloof and mysterious, no longer rooted in futile attempts to re-live the past, but rooted in the here and now and directed toward need-fulfilling involvement with others. This new book demonstrates, in a most persuasive way, the startling idea that we choose all that we do. What a liberating idea! We even choose misery at times, but usually we have better choices, and the author shows us graphically that we are free to make these.
Much of the unhappiness that most of us endure-at least, periodically-stems from the widespread belief we hold that people can be forced, through threats or rewards, to do things they do not want to do. Glasser refers to this massive tendency toward coercion, ever present in our society, as external control psychology. Choice Theory is the exact opposite of domination and invasive power. The new choice theory is, indeed, a remedy for all this misery. Without resorting to threats or bribes, we can vastly increase the likelihood that people will do what we want them to do if we learn and apply choice theory. Glasser's convincing explanation of this practical way of improving our relationships is the great achievement of this book.
Though not a book about religion, we find here a consistency with the Golden Rule, as the author himself points out. This remarkable book explores the relationships that most affect the quality of our lives: love, marriage, work, and family relationships. The author shows how schools can be true centers for quality learning. In a chapter on management in the workplace, Glasser shows why W. Edwards Deming met with such stunning success, first in Japan and later in America. Glasser also gives his view of why Southwest Airlines has been so extraordinarily successful in a highly competitive industry.
Having pointed the way to quality in our most important relationships, Glasser offers a bold proposal for creating quality communities. His proposal for vast social impact is not just a remote ideal; he describes the steps that are now being taken in one American city. If Corning, New york can do it, why not your community?
Dr. Minor Morgan is an attorney and practicing psychologist in Dallas, Texas.

Very interesting ideas put forth by Dr. Glasser. The main assumption is that you can only deal with what is happening right now, and what your actions will be in the future. You can’t change the past. This is a refreshing idea in a world that insists on digging up the past, or opening up old wounds, to help them heal. In most cases, wounds heal best when left alone. Glasser also emphasizes actions to feeling. You may feel that you want to kill yourself, but what are you going to do that is productive that may change your feelings towards your situation. You will find that Glasser takes his theory a bit far in some areas, but the concepts are certainly worth considering.

William Glasser, the author of "Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom" has been writing about therapy and educational matters since he first published "Reality Therapy" in 1965. "Choice Theory" is very much a summary of his theories and practical ideas as they stand at the beginning of 1998. There certainly is some repetition of earlier ideas but there are important changes: the realization that his theories are not just about therapy or education but in fact provide a complete psychology of human behaviour; a greater streamlining of terms and theoretical ideas; a renewed emphasis on the importance of relationships in human life and of the central role of relationships in all human problems.
Glasser contrasts his "internal control psychology" with "external control psychology" which, he claims, dominates so-called common sense thinking. The mistaken idea that we can control others destroys marriages, se! ! riously damages our educational system and generally increases problems in society.
Glasser explains how he has developed his own ideas borrowing also from those of William Powers ("Control Theory") and W. Edwards Deming (the American statistician who revolutionised the Japanese economy in the 1950s). We behave in order to satisfy genetically-based needs and, to this end, we accumulate a catalogue of effective "pictures" he calls the "quality world". Almost all our behaviour is chosen and through it we attempt to realize our pictures and satisfy our basic needs. Since Glasser sees behaviour an a totality of doing, thinking, feeling and physiology, he claims that we can make choices to change all four components. "Choice theory explains that, for all practical purposes, we choose everything we do, including the misery we feel." We are often unaware that this is a choice but once we realize it we know we can choose something diffe! ! rent.
With this important view of behaviour as a totality! Glasser recognises that physiology will change quite dramatically when a person chooses different behaviours. The mistake of many scientists and pseudo-scientists has been to confuse correlation with causality and to assume that the chemistry causes the behaviour rather than it simply accompanies it. Even in the 1970s, world famous behaviourist Albert Bandura set up remarkable research designs to locate the independent variables in systematic desensitization therapy. He found that it was not stimulus nor physiological response but the client's perception ("self efficacy") that determined the outcomes of the therapy. Psychopharmacologist Peter Breggin's different books on psychiatric drugs betray the secrets of what I call the "pseudo-scientists", those who have an agenda other than science.
In a practical section of "Choice Theory" the author spells out implications of his ideas for marriage, family, education and the workplace. Glasser p! ! rovides many case reports, some fictional some real, to illustrate not only how he would handle these situations but also the reasons for his approach at each point.
Glasser does make claims that are radical: he does not accept the standard view of "mental illness"; he emphasizes the fact that we can choose our behaviours; he says we need to change the whole system in our schools (rather than force students to adapt to unsatisfying systems). He does give clear explanations for these remarkable views but it is important to remember that this book is not written by an arm-chair theorist. Glasser's ideas on therapy are put into practice by the thousands of people around the world who have taken official training in his approach and by countless others who rely on reading and college courses. His ideas on education can be seen at work in an increasing number of schools and are generally supported by several other important educational authors. There is also a grow! ! ing body of research to support the effectiveness of his id! eas.
"Choice Theory" is essential reading for anyone in professional helping roles but thanks to the author's commitment to writing in plain English, it is a source of new ideas for everyone. His theory is beguilingly simple but in fact the ideas are remarkably profound when one considers all the ramifications of what he says.
Surprisingly Glasser does not go into a lot of detail on addictions and addictive substances in this book although he has covered the topic well in earlier publications. An alphabetical index would also have been a helpful addition to the book. Currently other authors are compiling an inventory of research into Choice Theory issues and the resulting references would also greatly enhance this book. The most important improvement perhaps is to make it available in paper-back so that a wider audience can read it.
The author of this review is a faculty member of the William Glasser Institute. So you may regard the reviewer as biased or i! ! nformed. It's your choice. Best of all, read the book and make up your own mind.

My therapist implements Dr. Glasser's theories in his own practice. After years of unsuccessful and redundant cognitive therapy that got me nowhere (in addition to countless antidepressant medications), I am finally learning to take control of my own life. My therapist actually gave me this book to read after a handful of sessions and I found its concepts incredibly easy to grasp. I suggest finding a psychologist who practices choice theory. It was like a bell went off in my head and I had one of those "aha!" moments. The truth is, your past is your past. You have more control over your happiness then you realize. This book successfully demonstrates how our desire to control others ultimately sabotages our relationships and is the major cause of what society refers to as depression. We are over medicated (and often times wrongly diagnosed with mental illness that is just in fact pure unhappiness) to try and pacify what in reality is under our complete control. Glasser teaches that if we actually take the time to realize what our "quality world" is and understand that everyone has a different notion of their "quality world," we will stop trying to control what is outside ourselves and spend more time cultivating the relationships that are important to us in a healthy and productive manor. I found this to be a very easy and informative read that complimented my therapy sessions very well. What I appreciate most about Choice Theory and psychologists who practice it is this; The doctors are not trying to keep you as patients forever by regurgitating your miserable childhood and past relationships so you walk out crying and need to keep coming back forever. The theory is this; You are an adult, you have control, so snap out of it, and we're going to do this faster then you think (and it works).

I found Dr Glasser's model of relationship refreshing, and a useful antidote to the external control approach most of us are accustomed to. I immediately began trying to put it into practice with my children, their mother, my extended family and with friends. It is a far healthier feeling to be oneself, and to give others the space to be themselves.

My criticisms for this book lay in a couple of areas. Although I think there is a lot of validity to emphasizing choice language when dealing with physical ailments, (after all, it is fascinating that a placebo will have a slightly less effective result than medication many times), to suggest that ALL physical ailments are a function of choice is rather far-fetched.

I also thought the extended sales pitch to Corning in the chapter on community was unnecessarily long, and cumbersome to read through. It did not advance his thesis at all, as it consisted of speculations about what MIGHT happen. As a reader, I wanted a further exploration of the ideas presented, with possible citations of past cases; not a long-winded, (if persuasive), plea for the good people of Corning to put his model to the test in their community.

With those minor criticisms, it is a very good read and a healthy model of meaningful relationships. It also serves as an excellent tool for evaluating your own psychological makeup. Highly recommended!

I read this book years ago. At the time, I worked with children that had been severely neglected and abused. Using choice theory was my preferred way of allowing these very damaged children the ability to choose. I just bought the book for my 27 year old son, for very different reasons. I hope he reads it.

I am a family and life coach and focus mainly on coaching parents and teens. Glassers' books is definitely among resources I provide to parents.

William Glasser states that "control can take many forms that can start from a disapproving glance ..." Using control on children and youth does not teach them how to make their own choices. Practicing Choice Theory with children can help them learn to think for themselves and have more confidence in themselves and the choices they make.

Choice Theory brings forward the idea that we are all in control of our lives and that we can attain the freedoms we all want and need. The seeds of unhappiness are planted when we are young and impressionable - when people think they know what is right or wrong for us and then try to force what they know is right.

I found Glasser's book reaffirmed my theory that we do not have to be victims forever and that we have choices to take our experiences - good or bad - and grow from them.

I have read other books of Dr. Glasser such as Control Theory, CT in the Classroom, Reality Therapy, Staying Together, and Quality Schools. So there are several things and ideas already covered in his previous books when you read this latest book of Glasser. To me, it is a bit too long and winding. I am sure it can be done or written more concisely (like Staying Together). However, I enjoyed reading most chapters. If you believe in his theory, you would find this book a good reference. In fact, you don't need to read all his other books.

About 14 months ago, I was in the midst of an insoluble relationship problem. It was absolutely intractable. I sought help from numerous sources, including a psychologist. It was finding and reading this book, however, that brought every aspect of this problem into crystal clear perspective, and brought home to me that I was choosing to be miserable, and that I could make better choices. The great wisdom of this book resides in that one very simple fact: we choose how we think, and what we do, and indirectly also how we feel. And we can choose to make better choices.
This is a dangerous book. It is a book for lives in crisis. But it is also a book that everyone should read, and read again. The sooner you read this book, and re-read it, the sooner you will find the freedom to finally choose happiness, without guilt. Possibly the most important self-help book you will ever read.

This book offers a concept that is truly empowering in its simplicity. Its theory is incredibly logical in the way it is presented; it basically says that we cannot control others or what happens to us but we CAN control our reactions to others and to what happens to us. I suggest this book to everyone and I constantly refer back to my own copy from time to time. This is a must-read!

RESONANCE: Already agreeing with about 95% of Brian Lennon's positive and comprehensive 16-July-98 review, I can explore other topics. Recently I stumbled upon Glasser's 1965 Reality Therapy depicting his theory that mental illness does not exist (except in brain-damage-observable diseases: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's...) He believes that most individuals, diagnosed to be mentally ill, will (usually without medications) greatly reduce their symptoms and increase their competence with life if all persons around them will emphasize that they are responsible for all their choices and behaviors, and will teach them effective and acceptable methods for getting their needs met. What a gem! - 165 pages of straight-forward methodology which the author had used for getting institutionalized juvenile offenders and long-term psychiatrically-hospitalized war-veterans to develop successful lives outside institutions. Having encountered little such thinking in about 40 other books on what is today variously diagnosed as mental illness, I was happy to also find and read both Glasser's excellent 2000 Reality Therapy in Action, and his 1998 Choice Theory (reviewed here). The choice-theory-like methodologies of Albert Ellis, W. Edwards Deming and Herb Kelleher are acknowledged. Also, Thomas Szasz basically agrees with Glasser in his 1974, The Myth of Mental Illness.
CHOICE THEORY: Glasser seems to prove that individuals exhibit symptoms of mental and (much of) physical illness by choice, and that these symptoms are the best choice available to him at the time. Glasser has us understand, for example, that hearing voices, "depressing," "panicking," "phobicking," "compulsing," "sicking," "headaching" and "arthritising" might all serve as our chosen methods to control ourselves or others or to quickly get urgently-needed help or attention. To illustrate the voluntary (choice) nature of some illnesses, Glasser writes, "...experiments have shown that a person who is allergic to strawberries may break out in hives when he or she goes into a room with strawberry-patterned wallpaper."
FALSE MEMORY THEORY: Perhaps Glasser missteps when, for childhood sexual abuse cases (hallmark is denial) he confoundingly perpetuates denial by arguing in favor of false memory theory. It seems to me that the publicized false memory cases, which might have averted two or three erroneous prosecutions, probably have functioned primarily to liberate and license child abusers. Cynics might even argue that false memory theory has helped to maintain sexual abuse of children at its historic high level in order to insure employment in the psychology professions. (A tragic analogy can be found in Samuel Epstein's, The Politics of Cancer Revisited, where he explains how various industries are fed when cancer incidence is maintained at a high level despite abundant research on successful prevention.) With prevalence running at 20-25%, how could Glasser relate to his clients if he doubts their experience? I don't know, but he cannot be dismissed here - he had a high level of success in the 1960's with counseling the female juvenile offenders almost all of whom had been sexually abused.
CHOICE THEORY AND FALSE MEMORY THEORY: Suppose a client states that she is so depressed from losing her leg (20 years ago when her father accidentally backed the car over her) that she has never sought employment or marriage. Most would recommend that she defocus the accident and create the best possible life she could for herself. But should she defocus if, instead of losing a leg, she had lost her childhood innocence via sexual abuse? How many of us, if we could choose, would actually prefer to have lost a leg over losing sexual innocence in childhood? If that would be a difficult decision then perhaps there is a similarity in the counter-productiveness of dwelling on either loss. I wonder whether experience has taught Glasser that, even when he believes that for a particular client sexual abuse did occur, it is therapeutically better not to "credit," it with belief or discussion. Could it be that if one has 25 hours of abusive sexual experience and then has 25 hours of counseling about it that the sum of bad experience would be 50 hours?
One who argues that leg loss and sexual abuse cannot be compared might come to realize that the sexual abuse experience is more subject to choice in thinking because leg loss is much more conspicuous. Of course persons suffering trauma can never be the same as persons who have not, but I think Glasser would have us realize that if they can create personally and professionally successful lives the significance of the trauma will diminish. On some highways we are vulnerable to instant death or grave injury about once every second. We must choose to not think about this in our daily commutes lest we develop a phobia or "phobia" and become dysfunctional. Would this choice be a mental health error?
But then how might Glasser counsel an "experiencer" (he downplays victimhood) of childhood sexual abuse who tells him that her marriage is ruined because she gets an abuser replay when she and her husband make love? I gather that he would tell her that she is actually choosing to bring these old memories (however unwelcome) into her marriage bed, and he might point out that on some occasions the replay has not occurred. He would then provide guidance for resolving problems in her current relationships (especially with her husband) so that this symptom would diminish or go away.
LIMITATIONS: I think that Glasser's acknowledgment of his limitations and failures boosts his credibility. He implies lack of success with sociopaths and the "workless" as he strongly advises women not to marry them. And he uses the condition "if the client is willing to talk, listen and think about what is going on..." (Some aren't willing.) He has acknowledged that he was able to help some clients only because judges had ordered them to participate in counseling. Also he now opposes the still-in-use Ten Step Discipline Program which he developed in the 1970's - because it does not work.
Great book for knowledge acquisition and thought challenge!

This took me a while to finish. Big fan of William Glasser and Choice Theory. I have read all of his works. It is great book while going to therapy. Reading this book without being familiar with Choice Theory, it might not resonate as much.

But with previous knowledge about choice theory, I truly enjoy this book and have reread it.

Hope this helps!

(...)
RESONANCE: Already agreeing with about 95% of Brian Lennon's strongly positive and comprehensive 16-July-98 review, I can explore other topics. Recently I stumbled upon Glasser's 1965 Reality Therapy explaining his theory that mental illness does not exist (except in brain-damage-observable diseases: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's...) He believes that most individuals, diagnosed to be mentally ill, will (usually without medications) greatly reduce their symptoms and increase their competence with life if all persons around them will emphasize that the persons with the symptoms are responsible for all of their own choices and behaviors, and will teach them effective and acceptable methods for getting their needs met. What a gem! - 165 pages of straight-forward methodology which the author had used for getting institutionalized juvenile offenders and long-term psychiatrically-hospitalized war veterans to develop successful lives outside institutions. Having encountered little such thinking in about 40 other books on what is today variously diagnosed as mental illness, I was also happy to find and read both Glasser's excellent Reality Therapy in Action (2000), and his Choice Theory (1998) (reviewed here). Glasser also has acknowledged the choice-theory-like methodologies of Albert Ellis, W. Edwards Deming and Herb Kelleher. Also, Thomas Szasz, M.D. basically agrees with Glasser in his, The Myth of Mental Illness (1974).
CHOICE THEORY: Glasser seems to prove that individuals exhibit symptoms of mental and (much of) physical illness by choice, and that these symptoms are the best choice available to them at the time. He has us understand, for example, that hearing voices, "depressing," "panicking," "phobicking," "compulsing," "sicking," "headaching" and "arthritising" might all serve as our chosen methods to control ourselves or others or to quickly get urgently-needed help or attention. To illustrate the voluntary nature of some illnesses, Glasser writes, "...experiments have shown that a person who is allergic to strawberries may break out in hives when he or she goes into a room with strawberry-patterned wallpaper."
FALSE MEMORY THEORY: Perhaps Glasser missteps when, for childhood sexual abuse cases (hallmark is denial) he confoundingly perpetuates denial by arguing in favor of false memory theory. It seems to me that the publicized false memory cases, which might have averted two or three erroneous prosecutions, probably have functioned primarily to liberate and license thousands of child abusers. Cynics might even argue that false memory theory has helped to maintain sexual abuse of children at its historic high level in order to insure employment in the psychology professions. With prevalence running at 20-25%, how could Glasser even relate to his clients if he doubts their experience? While I don't know the answer, I am reluctant to dismiss him here. After all, he had a high level of success in the 1960's with counseling female juvenile offenders almost all of whom had been sexually abused.
CHOICE THEORY AND FALSE MEMORY THEORY: Suppose a client states that she is so depressed from losing her leg (20 years ago when her father accidentally backed the car over her) that she has never sought employment or marriage. Most would recommend that she defocus the accident and create the best possible life she could for herself. But should she defocus if, instead of losing a leg, she had lost her childhood innocence via sexual abuse? How many of us, if we could choose, would actually prefer to have lost a leg over losing sexual innocence in childhood? If that would be a difficult decision then perhaps there is a similarity in the counter-productiveness of dwelling on either loss. I wonder whether experience has taught Glasser that, even when he believes that for a particular client sexual abuse did occur, it is therapeutically better not to "credit," it with belief or discussion. Could it be that if one has 25 hours of abusive sexual experience and then has 25 hours of counseling about it that the sum of bad experience would be 50 hours?
One who argues that leg loss and sexual abuse cannot be compared might come to realize that the sexual abuse experience is more subject to choice in thinking because leg loss is much more conspicuous. Of course persons suffering trauma can never be the same as persons who have not, but I think Glasser would have us realize that, if they can create personally and professionally successful lives, the significance of the trauma will diminish. On some highways we are vulnerable to instant death or grave injury about once every second. We must choose to not think about this in our daily commutes lest we develop a phobia or "phobia" and become dysfunctional. Could this type of choice be called a mental health error?
But then how might Glasser counsel an "experiencer" (he downplays victimhood) of childhood sexual abuse who tells him that her marriage is ruined because she gets an abuser replay when she and her husband make love? I gather that he would tell her that she is actually choosing to bring these old memories (however unwelcome) into her marriage bed, and he might point out that on some occasions the replay has not occurred. He would then provide guidance for resolving problems in her current relationships (especially with her husband) so that this symptom would diminish or eventually go away.
LIMITATIONS: I think that Glasser's acknowledgment of his own limitations and failures boosts his credibility. He implies lack of success with sociopaths and the "workless" as he strongly advises women not to marry them. And he uses the condition "if the client is willing to talk, listen and think about what is going on...." He has acknowledged that he was able to help some clients only because judges had ordered them to participate in counseling. Also he now opposes the still-in-use Ten Step Discipline Program which he developed in the 1970's - because he says that it does not work.
Great book for knowledge acquisition and thought challenge!

This took me a while to finish. Big fan of William Glasser and Choice Theory. I have read all of his works. It is great book while going to therapy. Reading this book without being familiar with Choice Theory, it might not resonate as much.

But with previous knowledge about choice theory, I truly enjoy this book and have reread it.

Hope this helps!

Breakthrough to the other side ; finally an author that is not afraid to seperate truth from fiction , fact from fantasy. Glasser with the help of many other truth seeking humane beings has unmasked the tyrant that permeates all of modern society and can affect each of us at a mental and physiological level,almost undetectable by those around us we love the the most, that feel hopeless to help us from the inevitable destructive paths we as indivuals,communitys,countys,states,and country are chosing to follow unaware of the extreme danger we heading towards.... Dr. Glasser has put into lay terms,a map to the avenue of the same safe harbor that the ingenious founding fathers of United States of America so profoundly documented in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of this U.S.of A. My personnel life is testimony to the facts presented in Dr.Glassers book," Choice Theory ".I don't feel it nessary to share the details of my life because they are so common and surround us all on a daily basis. All I can do is encourage those around me in my sphere of influence to read this information,talk about and let the imprint of nature do the rest. At the end of the motion picture " Braveheart" Mel Gibbson portaryaling William Wallace's grusome death when ask to recant his loyaltys to his faith,country,and fellow country men did not cry out for mercy but instead cried out "Freedom"! I am also truly pleased that this book does not pander to the philosophys of secular humanism. THIS IS A MUST READ xoxoxoxoxoxo. Yours for living in the Now, E-mail/ [email protected]

(...)
RESONANCE: Already agreeing with about 95% of Brian Lennon's strongly positive and comprehensive 16-July-98 review, I can explore other topics. Recently I stumbled upon Glasser's 1965 Reality Therapy explaining his theory that mental illness does not exist (except in brain-damage-observable diseases: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's...) He believes that most individuals, diagnosed to be mentally ill, will (usually without medications) greatly reduce their symptoms and increase their competence with life if all persons around them will emphasize that the persons with the symptoms are responsible for all of their own choices and behaviors, and will teach them effective and acceptable methods for getting their needs met. What a gem! - 165 pages of straight-forward methodology which the author had used for getting institutionalized juvenile offenders and long-term psychiatrically-hospitalized war veterans to develop successful lives outside institutions. Having encountered little such thinking in about 40 other books on what is today variously diagnosed as mental illness, I was also happy to find and read both Glasser's excellent Reality Therapy in Action (2000), and his Choice Theory (1998) (reviewed here). Glasser also has acknowledged the choice-theory-like methodologies of Albert Ellis, W. Edwards Deming and Herb Kelleher. Also, Thomas Szasz, M.D. basically agrees with Glasser in his, The Myth of Mental Illness (1974).
CHOICE THEORY: Glasser seems to prove that individuals exhibit symptoms of mental and (much of) physical illness by choice, and that these symptoms are the best choice available to them at the time. He has us understand, for example, that hearing voices, "depressing," "panicking," "phobicking," "compulsing," "sicking," "headaching" and "arthritising" might all serve as our chosen methods to control ourselves or others or to quickly get urgently-needed help or attention. To illustrate the voluntary nature of some illnesses, Glasser writes, "...experiments have shown that a person who is allergic to strawberries may break out in hives when he or she goes into a room with strawberry-patterned wallpaper."
FALSE MEMORY THEORY: Perhaps Glasser missteps when, for childhood sexual abuse cases (hallmark is denial) he confoundingly perpetuates denial by arguing in favor of false memory theory. It seems to me that the publicized false memory cases, which might have averted two or three erroneous prosecutions, probably have functioned primarily to liberate and license thousands of child abusers. Cynics might even argue that false memory theory has helped to maintain sexual abuse of children at its historic high level in order to insure employment in the psychology professions. With prevalence running at 20-25%, how could Glasser even relate to his clients if he doubts their experience? While I don't know the answer, I am reluctant to dismiss him here. After all, he had a high level of success in the 1960's with counseling female juvenile offenders almost all of whom had been sexually abused.
CHOICE THEORY AND FALSE MEMORY THEORY: Suppose a client states that she is so depressed from losing her leg (20 years ago when her father accidentally backed the car over her) that she has never sought employment or marriage. Most would recommend that she defocus the accident and create the best possible life she could for herself. But should she defocus if, instead of losing a leg, she had lost her childhood innocence via sexual abuse? How many of us, if we could choose, would actually prefer to have lost a leg over losing sexual innocence in childhood? If that would be a difficult decision then perhaps there is a similarity in the counter-productiveness of dwelling on either loss. I wonder whether experience has taught Glasser that, even when he believes that for a particular client sexual abuse did occur, it is therapeutically better not to "credit," it with belief or discussion. Could it be that if one has 25 hours of abusive sexual experience and then has 25 hours of counseling about it that the sum of bad experience would be 50 hours?
One who argues that leg loss and sexual abuse cannot be compared might come to realize that the sexual abuse experience is more subject to choice in thinking because leg loss is much more conspicuous. Of course persons suffering trauma can never be the same as persons who have not, but I think Glasser would have us realize that, if they can create personally and professionally successful lives, the significance of the trauma will diminish. On some highways we are vulnerable to instant death or grave injury about once every second. We must choose to not think about this in our daily commutes lest we develop a phobia or "phobia" and become dysfunctional. Could this type of choice be called a mental health error?
But then how might Glasser counsel an "experiencer" (he downplays victimhood) of childhood sexual abuse who tells him that her marriage is ruined because she gets an abuser replay when she and her husband make love? I gather that he would tell her that she is actually choosing to bring these old memories (however unwelcome) into her marriage bed, and he might point out that on some occasions the replay has not occurred. He would then provide guidance for resolving problems in her current relationships (especially with her husband) so that this symptom would diminish or eventually go away.
LIMITATIONS: I think that Glasser's acknowledgment of his own limitations and failures boosts his credibility. He implies lack of success with sociopaths and the "workless" as he strongly advises women not to marry them. And he uses the condition "if the client is willing to talk, listen and think about what is going on...." He has acknowledged that he was able to help some clients only because judges had ordered them to participate in counseling. Also he now opposes the still-in-use Ten Step Discipline Program which he developed in the 1970's - because he says that it does not work.
Great book for knowledge acquisition and thought challenge!

I am (by trade & training) an "Instrument & Controls" person, so when I stumbled upon Dr. Glassers "Control Theory" I was actually looking for "manufacturing" type controls. Taking required psych/soc courses in school, I had a hard time buying into their theory of "stimulus/response" (old Pavlov & his dog) etc. and had many heated discussions on why I thought this was bull. But when I read "Control Theory" (now updated to "Choice Theory"), things that I had observed and "understood" (via my "controls" background) fell into place. Everyone knows (?) people don't behave like machines, (but sometimes??...) and this book gives some clue into the reasonings behind motivation's & just what makes us do the things we do. Loved it!

I stopped reading when I got to the "simple graph" on page 9. Glasser, who is an M.D. (albeit a psychiatrist), has made a career out of offering knee-jerk opinions with no factual backing or published research. He's a crackpot, like Deepok Chopra and that little Buddhist who looks like a gnome.

Years ago, I thought Glasser was a genius when I read "Schools Without Failure," then I grew up. This book is basically for dummies who are impressed by medical degrees, but the material here is no more academic or scientific than your average self-help garbage. I highly recommend Alan Watts' "The Wisdom of Insecurity" for those who are searching for answers.

Avoid this dreck just as you would "Awakening the Buddha Within" or anything by Tony Robbins.

This is the best self help book that I have found. While the word psychology may scare you off, it is not tough reading. The principals described seem like common sense, once you think about them. This book has proven to be useful in multiple areas of my life and I am actually giving out copies of this book to everyone I see that could use it. You cannot go wrong in spending time with this book. Reality Therapy, by the same author, provides a good example of where choice theory came from. I have read over a dozen psychology books and this is by far my favorite.

The book outlines Choice Theory, a belief that all problems we face are "relationship problems" -- employee/manager, teacher/student, spouse/spouse, etc. It states that when we give up the notion that we can control anyone else but ourselves, our problems will disappear, including psychiatric disorders, bad marriages, and failing schools. While mostly valuable, the theory shows its seams in its treatment of the most distressed populations -- those with mental illnesses and those experiencing domestic violence. The former assertion -- that all mental illness is a chosen behavior -- is puzzling at best; the book's short treatment of the latter, however, is particularly grating, stating that traditional, "external control" methods of dealing with those choosing to abuse -- such as treating domestic violence as crimes, I suppose -- are ineffective, and that "diversion programs" to get offenders into Choice Theory counseling are the only real way to end the problem. There is nothing to back up such a wild claim (disproven by dozens of models showing that treating domestic violence as a crime is the only effective deterrent) save for a citation of a program in Ohio which shows a certain "success rate" for those completing a Reality Therapy program -- failing to mention what a "success" is, who goes through it, how it is measured, how long it lasts, how much safer the victims of abuse actually feel after their abusive partners finish the course, and so on. Because the book makes such grand claims about improving realtionships, and because abuse in relationships is unarguably the biggest challenge that the two people can face, such short shrift undermines belief in the theory. When the author and his theory stick to standard, common-sense suggestions, the book is a welcome addition to the self-help field; when it is stretched by more serious problems, however, it merely appears naive.

Good reading by a brilliant man. A Master's Text. This item arrived on time and is an excellent purchase. I like it very much and am VERY glad I ordered it. Thank you so much the store.com for the great price, good value and prompt delivery. I use this item frequently.

Unfortunately, many mainstream reviewers have criticized the work of noted Austrian-school psychiatrist Dr. William Glasser. Please do not be deterred by these politically motivated diatribes; "Choice Theory" is a superb addition to his works on Reality Therapy, an excellent 20th century development of psychoanalysis.
The attacks on Glasser's work can be clearly seen as the uninformed bitterness of 3rd rate intelligences; comments such as "everybody knows Freud is pap" display an ignorance of psychology which is virtually incalculable. As far as therapy and modernity goes, Freud IS psychology, modern psychology is just a series of footnotes to Freud. Glasser's work is a Freudian development which attempts to balance that outlook with optimism and personal responsibility.
Unfortunately, many politically correct types such as feminists and liberals have their own agenda against personal responsibility, they prefer to see themselves as victims and indeed glory in victimhood. Dr. Glasser's work with its emphasis on personal responsibility inadvertently shames them, hence the visceral reaction against his work. It would be a great tragedy if disturbed persons (who abound among leftist Americans and Europeans) were put off from taking a psychological route which has excellent potential to cure their neuroses.
If anyone can clear up the issues of the walking wounded and others whose personal problems seem to be their only sense of identity, it is Dr. William Glasser and Reality Therapy. Please ignore negative reviews by those of his detractors who are clearly neurotic; truly that would be letting the inmates run the asylum.

If you like books that are indepth, insightful, and take some initiative to read, then this is the book for you, especially if you are at a crossroads with some decision in your life. It's not fluff. Written for the intelligent reader who WANTS to help him/herself. Be ready for total honesty with yourself when you open this book. Glasser is a tough old bird! Beware!

This is one of the most excellent books I've read in a long time .. .and I read alot.

This book offers a concept that is truly empowering in its simplicity. Its theory is incredibly logical in the way it is presented; it basically says that we cannot control others or what happens to us but we CAN control our reactions to others and to what happens to us. I suggest this book to everyone and I constantly refer back to my own copy from time to time. This is a must-read!

I have use this text to prepare to teach graduate level counseling internship courses. It is an easy read, but so full of useful information - don't let the ease of reading fool you! There is a lot of material to absorb, and the text presents the information in a helpful, clear manner that I can use with both my students and my clients.

I first learned of this book from my therapist. He teaches "Choice Therapy" and I get the concept. The general principal behind it but I am not on board with many things. Lets just say mental illness is real. It is NOT a choice. If you are mentally ill in any way, shape or form choice therapy is very dangerous. My therapist had me go off meds and tried to help me for 3 months via Choice therapy. It made me feel worse than I have ever felt. At first I was empowered thinking I had so many choices in life but this is simply unrealistic. In the end I felt worse then when therapy began. I felt that if everything I encounter in life is a choice I have made, every feeling I have felt is a choice I have made.....I must be a horrible person. I must be responsible for my mental illness, how could someone love me? I left each session feeling like my husband did not love me.I was told I provide him with information and with that information he can choose to feel love for me. But can also choose not to. I was often corrected in session and did not like the constant corrections.

Also the very first 2 pages say that every single person in the world if asked honestly " How are you" they would respond Miserable"

I find it hard to believe this and tend to believe we are generally good creatures. I do not think everyone wakes with this drastic emotion. My life is nothing amazing to most and I have some rough times but I would never say I was Miserable. I chose to never read the rest of this book and it is still collecting dust. I am better taught with POSITIVE reinforcement. I think if in the wrong hands this book can do more hard than good.

I enjoyed this book, it was a fairly quick read. At times I said "well yes of course!" and other times "you gotta be kidding!" I think this is a good book about counseling those with the "helpless victim" attitude, to show them how much power they really have, and they don't have to control other people to be free to make their own choices. However, I think it is very egotistical for him to say this theory will stop domestic abuse and physical health problems. I wish it were so but it ain't.

I expected something more rigorous from a world-renowned MD. What I got were very simplistic views, often buttressed by nothing more than the author's own opinions. Dr. Glasser makes some sweeping statements that are irresponsible, careless and go against findings from medical studies.
I cannot understand how a psychiatrist can simply shrug off depression and claim that it is totally within a person's control, when many studies have shown that depression very much has a biological component. Worse, he claims that therapy that aims to establish a connection between depression and past experiences is useless. Obviously, this guy doesn't have a clue about what it is to be depressed.
And get this, on p. 288 he says "Our rate of tax compliance is among the highest in the world, strong evidence that we are not a greedy people." Duh. This is what I mean when I say he is careless - the whole book has generalizations and sweeping statements based on "strong evidences" like that one.
Harper Perennial, WHY???????

This book changed my life in the way that I think and act. I finally got all the answers that I have always wanted to know about relationships and myself. People have made comments about the way that I act now. I am more calm, easy going and enjoy life. This book is a must for people who want to know, why we act the way we do and how to change it. Thank you

The book is an easy read. It is entertaining as it uses the stories of actual clients to describe the use of the therapy. The approach is sound and it offers a balance to the reliance on medication that so many of my colleges depend on today.

This book is very interesting. It discusses a new way of thinking, that if used, could change the world. If you are interested in psychology, particularly reality therapy or choice theory, this is a must read.

I've tried reading this book several times, but always end up putting it down. The author strains the limits of my credulity when he states that so many health conditions from stomach aches to arthritis, are caused by the body's "creative systems" and that they are related directly to the breakdown of a personal relationship. Gimme a break, doc! This idea has been around for years, and has yet to be proven by science. This book is harmful!

You too could be a famous psychologist! Simply write a book full of opinion and untested theory.
Try Steven Hayes, Howard Rachlin, or if you are into schools, try the Morningside Model by Kent Johnson, these people have evidence to show that their psychologies work. Don't buy into the warm fuzzy feeling books like this promise.

This book was a great source of entertainment, much like a bad scifi film is. There are not enough words to describe how feeble minded this book is. L. Ron Hubbard nothing on Dr. Glasser. If you want everlasting happiness just buy his book, check yourself into his institute and let him council you to a better you. Don't forget your white robe but leave your thinking cap at home.